January 2016
Traditional touches combine with fresh features to further the appeal of this popular Type C motorhome.
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January 2016
- A first-grader watches a commercial on the Food Network and calls to his mom to come watch it, too. This isn’t your typical commercial that would appeal to a soon to be 6-year-old boy. It’s not about a toy or about a reality TV show. This commercial is about childhood hunger and a call to action for donations to help feed hungry children.First, I want to thank FMCA national senior vice president Jon Walker for giving me a month off by writing the December “President’s Message.” My biggest regret is that I was not there to see him fall out of the kayak three times. I know his grandsons really enjoyed watching him get dunked!Gas or diesel: Which type of motorhome do you prefer, and why?This list of tourism offices in the United States and Canada was accurate as of November 2015.
Tennessee, the Volunteer State, spreads a sumptuous feast for RV travelers who seek adventures in cuisine. Trolling for traditional recipes in the mountains of East Tennessee took me from the vibrant restaurant scene in downtown Knoxville to cookstoves in log cabins and iron kettles simmering over campfires.
First, you hear it. An extraordinarily loud, primeval “whucker, whucker, whucker!” The sound fills the forest. Then, you see it. A big, black-and-white bird with a vivid red head crest flies through the trees and eventually rests on a branch.
With a new year come new opportunities to explore new places and meet new people. As I write this, our motorhome sits in the driveway of our Michigan home. But I keep glancing out at it, chomping at the bit to hit the road.The glories of desert treasure described by famed environmentalist Edward Abbey in his 1968 book are part of the reason Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is worthy of exploration.
Hugelmeyer Takes Reins At RVIAFrank Hugelmeyer officially became president of Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) in October. He succeeded Richard Coon, who retired after holding the position for 10 years.Warmth will always make Florida a popular state for RVers in winter. But which Florida town is best for exploration? St. Augustine gets my vote for the best merger of beaches and fascinating history.
Heated Insoles
Winter camping can be invigorating, but when it’s cold enough to make your toes shiver, it’s time to take action. Thermacell Heated Insoles use wireless thermal technology to keep feet warm.Visitors to Savannah, Georgia, encounter Southern-style warmth and hospitality, akin to spending time with an old friend. The distinctive moss-draped trees, antebellum homes, and horse-drawn carriages help to give one the relaxed and comfortable impression that there’s no rush here.
In September 2015, 30 members of the NorCal Rex RV Club gathered at Casa de Fruta RV Park in Hollister, California, to celebrate the chapter’s 15th anniversary.A preview of the comedy and music on tap at FMCA’s 93rd Family Reunion in March.The Friendship chapter can trace its beginnings to a question, one that a number of people were asking in the early 2000s: Why not hold a rally for the West Region of the Southeast Area?From 2009 to 2013, an average of 5,540 fires a year involved motorhomes and other recreational vehicles, according to estimates provided by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). On average, those fires killed 36 people and injured 135 annually.
Members of the Hokie Travelers celebrated the chapter’s 10th anniversary on September 6, 2015, on the campus of Virginia Tech, whose sports teams are nicknamed the Hokies. Hokie Travelers is one of several FMCA chapters created by sports fans of a major college or university.Some have joked that when it comes to RVing, “roughing it” means having the worst possible Wi-Fi reception in the campground. However you personally define the term, it likely won’t apply to the 2016 American Eagle by American Coach, manufactured by REV Recreation Group (formerly Allied Recreation Group).
While attending a large FMCA rally in northern Colorado in the summer of 1999, a group of RVers from the Colorado Springs and Monument areas met and decided to form a small, more intimate chapter closer to home. They called it the Pikes Peak Rollers.A guide to 2016-model-year vehicles that manufacturers have indicated can be recreationally towed behind a motorhome without significant modifications.
Heating Vent CoverOur motorhome has several metal in-floor heating vents in areas where debris could fall in. It isn’t easy to remove the vent covers or to use a vacuum to remove the debris. One vent is in the kitchen, close to the food prep counter, so falling bits of food are a concern.Discolored Extension Cord PlugDear RV Doctor:In the June 2015 “House Calls” column (page 20), a reader queried about discolored cord contacts. I have a similar issue where the female receptacle on a 15-foot, 50-amp extension cord has turned brown, presumably due to heat or spark gapping,The following manufacturers have recalls delineated in this month's Recall Corner: Airstream Inc., Newmar Corporation, Spartan Motors USA, Thor Motor Coach, Tiffin Motorhomes, Winnebago Industries Inc.Oily Electrolyte
Letters from people who added four ounces of mineral oil to each cell of a battery bank appeared in “Tech Talk” in March 2014 (page 18) and August 2014 (page 18). I did this, and I am amazed at how well it has worked the past 1 1/2 years.Bubbles No MoreDear Editor:In the November 2015 “House Calls” column (page 24), Charly Barnes described a problem with air bubbles from the water pump. We had the same problem with our 2000 Georgie Boy Landau motorhome.
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